Every March I break out the spring jacket too soon.

No matter how low the temperature falls, once my light jacket is out, I refuse to put it back in the closet until October. It’s the same stubbornness I had when I was young and refused to do what my parents said when they were clearly, obviously right.

I want to believe that defiance is never pointless, that optimism takes practice. I also want to believe that one day I will be smart enough to look out the window and dress appropriately.

The two attitudes shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. But in my case, maybe that’s just wishful thinking.